Sinkhole swallowing southern Ohio road

Two houses are cracking and one homeowner is being urged to move out. (WTOV)

MARTINS FERRY, Ohio (WTOV) — A Martins Ferry road is slipping away, causing homes along it to split and creating the potential for a very dangerous situation.

The mayor of Martins Ferry said on Monday night a huge water main break took place on North 8thStreet, leaving crews no choice but to start making immediate repairs to the slipping road.

"There was water coming out of the wall and over the wall so we come over to take a look at it and there was a lot of water running out and found out we had a water break," Mayor Robert Krajnyak said.

Crews worked late into the night and arrived early Tuesday morning. The city's water department started digging seven feet down to access the water line. They found a 6-inch main line, a 12-inch main line, and two gas lines under the road.

"If we would’ve lost the 12 inch line we would have lost some homes down below,” Krajnyak said.

The main reason for the water break? North 8th Street is quickly slipping away. Two of the homes on the street are cracking because of it and one homeowner is being urged to move out.

"We were here Friday just to check on things and from Friday until I got the call Monday night to look at it. The road surface had subsided about a foot, and since we’ve been here today its gone down another 5 inches," Krajnyak said.

Those who live on 8th Street say they park their cars on it, and in the past year it's become unsafe. However, they’re staying positive.

"I’m glad it will be fixed. That’s the main concern, that’s the main issue," said resident Annie Relston.

Residents were without water for most of the day and the Salvation Army was on scene assisting them and the crews. The mayor said engineers will be coming in to stabilize the land and redo the street the right way.